Antifluctuator for gas-service pipes.



PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

J. E. BRODBRIGK. ANTIFLUOTUATOR FOR GAS SERVICE PIPES.

APPLIOATION FILED 00110, 1903.

N0 MODEL;

A W 7 w JAMES E. BRODERICK,

' Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ANTIFLUCTUATOR FOR GAS-SERVICE PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,269, dated July 5, 1904.

Application filed October 10, 1903. Serial No. 176,522. (No model.)

To all, who/r1, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES E. BRODERICK, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Oincin nati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antifluctuators for Gas-Service Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in antifiuctuators such as are employed for connection with gas-supply pipes from which gas-engines and the like are supplied for preventing fluctuations or variations in pressure, such as ordinarily renders objectionable or dangerous the connection of gas-burners with such supply-pipes by tending to cause the flame at the burners to flutter or be extinguished; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character of a simple and inexpensive nature and of a structure by means of which the fluctuations or variations in gaspressure during the times the gas-engine is operating are altogether neutralized and overcome and are prevented from disadvantageously affecting either gas-burners connected with the same supply-pipe or the gas-meter through which gas is drawn from the main.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts of the improved antifluctuating device whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is made simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set fortln The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a general view showing an antifiuctuating device embodying my invention and applied for use to a gas-supply pipe leading from a meter to a gas-engine and having burners connected with it. Fig.2 is a view drawn to a larger scale and showing in vertical axial section the antilluctuating device constructed according to my invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View of the device as illustrated in Fig. 2, the cap or cover of the device bclng, however,

omitted in order that the parts beneath it may 7 be illustrated.

In the views, 1 indicates a motor, which may be of the ordinary small size generally employed and which has connection, as seen at 2, with the service-pipe leading from the main (not shown) and also has connection with the house-service pipe 3, with which are connected burners 4 4 in the ordinary Way.

7 indicates the gas-engine as a whole, having an igniter 6, to which gas is supplied constantly at a desired rate through a pipe 5, connected with the service-pipe 3. The servicepipe 3 also has connection with a nipple 10 at one sideof the cylindrical shell or casing 8 of the improved antifiuctuating device, the said shell or casing being made, as herein shown, from thin sheet metal in open-topped or cup-like form and having the nipple ll), formed of a metal casting, secured upon its side, so that gas may be supplied from pipe 3 through said nipple to the interior chamber or hollow 9 of the shell or casing. Inside of the casing the nipple 10 is provided with a short extension 11, extended at a slight upwardangle and adapted to be closed by a flap-valve 12, hinged at its edge to the upper part 01" said extension and adapted to fall by gravitation in position as seen in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3 to close the passage through extension 11, so that backward. flow of gas from shell or casing 8 to the service-pipe 3 may not take place. At its under side the shellor casing 8 is also provided with a casting or reinforce 13, secured to it and provided with a nipple, centrally arranged with respectto the shell and having connection with the interior chamber 9 thereof and also having connection, as seen at 14, with a pipe 15, leading to the intake of the gasengine 7, to which gas is thereby supplied for operation from the interior chamber 9 of the antiflnctuating device.

16 indicates a leather or other flexible diaphragm extended across the open top of the shell or casing 8 of the anti'l'luctuating device and provided with a loose central part whereby said central part is permitted to play upward and downward from the position seen in full lines in Fig. 2 to that shown in dotted lines at :1/ thereln. The edge portions of the diaphragm or flexible top 16 of the shell or casing 8 may be lapped upon the outer side of said shell, as seen at 21. and cemented thereto or may be held to the shell to produce a gas-tight joint in any other desirable manner. Normally the loose or sagging central portion of the flexible diaphragm 16 is depressed by means of weights 17 and 18; but when gas is admitted to chamber 9, beneath the diaphragm, the pressure of the gas will be exerted to uplift said diaphragm to the position indicated in dotted lines at m in Fig. 2. The central part of the diaphragm is clamped between said weights 17 and 18, which thereby serve for the convenient attachment of a stem or guide-rod 20, extended upward above the shell or casing and serving to guide the upward and downward movements of the diaphragm, as will be hereinafter explained. The preferred arrangement of the parts illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 contemplates the arrangement of the weight 17 beneath the diaphragm 16, said w'eight having an interiorlythreaded socket 19 to receive the threaded lower end of stem or rod 20 and the weight 18 being arranged above the diaphragm and made in annular form, with an elevated annular flange 22 on its upper face, within which flange 22 is engaged the lower part of a locking-nut 23, also having threaded engagement with the lower end of the stem or rod 20. By this structure the upper weight 18 is not required to be turned when the diaphragm is clamped, and consequently there is no liability of damage to said diaphragm, such as would ensue were said upper weight threaded on the stem or rod 20 and made to turn in engagement with the diaphragm. The weights afforded by this preferred construction may be readily added to to suit varying conditions.

2&1 indicates a protective cap or hood arranged above the shell or casing 8 and designed to protect and cover the diaphragm 16 during its movement, and said cap or hood may be conveniently made in conical form, as herein shown, with a cylindrical lower part 25 fitted removably in an annular support 26, surrounding the upper part of shell 8, on which said support is held by means of radial arms or projections 26 in such a way that spaces or vents intervene between the shell 8 and support 26 for the escape of air during the uplifting of the flexible diaphragm 16. T he'cap or hood 24 has a flange 27 resting on the support 26 to maintain said cap or liood in position, and at its apex the conical cap or hood affords a bearing, as seen at 28, in which slides the upper end of the stem or guide-rod 20 of the diaphragm, said stem 20 being provided with an enlargement 29 above such hearing, so that the strain which would otherwise be exerted on the loose central part of the flexible diaphragm 16 is removed therefrom, and when the diaphragm is in lowered position such strain is brought upon the cap or hood 2% By this arrangement the diaphragm is caused to move up and down evenly and without binding, and its flexibility is maintained for a longer time without the liability of cracking or deterioration due to the weight upon its central part.

In the operation of the improved antifluctuating device it is evident that as the gas-engine 7 draws gas from the pipe 15 such gas Will be withdrawn from the chamber 9 of the shell or casing 8,.which will be of suflicient capacity to permit this, and when the gas is' so withdrawn from said chamber the flexible diaphragm 16 will sag or fall to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 under the influence of the weights'l'? and 18, as well as of the suction of the engine, and when a charge has been drawn from said chamber the gas from .pipe 3 will again flow therein, lifting valve 12, as indicated in dotted lines, and raising the flexible diaphragm 16 against its weights to the uplifted position, (shown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines at w,) the stem 20 playing upward in its bearing 28 to the position shown at :13 during this movement of the diaphragm.

By this structure it will be seen that the flexible top wall or diaphragm 16 fully compensates for the withdrawal of gas from the chamber 9 and prevents entirely those fluctuations and variations in pressure which are ordinarily exerted in the service-pipes during the operation of gas-engines and which tend to cause fluttering and extinguishing of the flame at burners connected with the same pipes and in some cases interfere with the working of the meters and even cause fluctuation in the mains. It will also be seen that this construction avoids the employment of a large meter, such as is sometimes provided for use in connection with service-pipes from which gas-engines are supplied, and the structure is so simple as to be very inexpensive and durable and is not liable to be deranged or broken when in use.

The removable cover or cap 2 1 may be takenoff by unscrewing the enlargement 29 of the stem 20, so that the entire upper surface of the diaphragm 16 may be exposed for inspection and repair. The said cap or hood 24 also efl'ectually protects said diaphragm, and at the same time the vents provided between the shell 8 and the support 26 permit free operation of the diaphragm by affording ready escape of air on the upstroke thereof.

It will also be obvious from'the above description that the device is capable of some modification Without material departure from the principles and spirit of the invention, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise form and arrangement of the several parts of the device herein set forth in carrying out my invention in practice IIS Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character described comprising a shell having a chamber and provided with gas-inlet and gas-outlet openings, a diaphragm of flexible material extended across the chamber, a stem for the diaphragm and adapted for endwise movement, and having a threaded end portion, weights between which the diaphragm is clamped, one weight being held to the stem and the other weight being loose thereon and a nut screwed on the stem and engaged with the loose weight to force the same in clamping engagement with the diaphragm.

2. A device of the character described com prising a shell having a chamber provided with a gas-inlet and a gas-outlet, a diaphragm oi flexible material extended across the chamber, an annular support on the shell, and

spaced away from the same to produce vents and a cap rested on said support and extended over the diaphragm.

3. A device of the character described com prising a shell having a chamber provided with a gas-inlet and a gas-outlet, a diaphragm of flexible material extended across the chamher, an annular support on the shell and spaced away therefrom to produce vents, a 

